Dueling events highlight Italy's uneasy reckoning with its past as new Prime Minister Meloni takes helm of 1st postwar government led by a party with neo-fascist roots

Unlike Germany, Italy never underwent process of erasing fascist symbols after World War II; even PM Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party retains flame emblem used by Mussolini

In first address to parliament, Giorgia Meloni distances her government from country's 'undemocratic' history, says Italy a 'reliable' partner in supporting Ukraine, opposing Putin

Israeli premier appears to change tack on far-right leader, after previous Foreign Ministry statement on elections avoided mentioning Giorgia Meloni or her Brothers of Italy party

Giorgia Meloni, whose party has neo-fascist roots, also becomes the first woman to ever lead Italy; vows to act 'in the exclusive interests of the nation' as she takes oath

Brothers of Italy leader Giorgia Meloni recounts right-wing fervor that led her to get involved with party founded by Mussolini nostalgists

Politician, whose party has neo-fascist roots, meets with Italian president; she makes announcement flanked by her two main, right-wing allies Salvini and Berlusconi

A day after Senate appoints fascist memorabilia collecting speaker, parliament picks Lorenzo Fontana who has voiced support for Greece's Golden Dawn neo-Nazi party

Ignazio La Russa, of Brothers of Italy party, showed off collection in 2018 newspaper interview; like leader Giorgia Meloni he is ambiguous about party's neo-fascist roots

In emotional speech, Liliana Segre recalls discrimination she faced in past, urges civilized debate as Brothers of Italy, which has neo-fascist roots, leads government